LEXI SEUBERT
boardwalk under twilight with spring peepers calling from every perceivable angle, or picking up a feisty male snapping turtle for trip members to get a better look,” Badje said. “Developing those personal experiences is imperative to maintaining the relationships that make citizen science projects successful.” Places like the Ridges boardwalk in Baileys Harbor are accessible to people of all abilities, he added. “It really lets everyone get involved.”
THOMAS MEYER
Hidden Brook Boardwalk at The Ridges Sanctuary offers an accessible field trips option.
Many field trips focus on interesting sights and sounds of the outdoors — like this moccasin flower at Spruce Lake Bog State Natural Area in Fond du Lac County.
native landscapes and the importance of protecting and managing these special places for future generations,” he said. Meyer also hopes to put “a positive, human face” on the DNR and said field trips with younger participants are added fun for him. The foundation gears each field trip toward recommended age groups.
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“I get an extra kick out of the young folks who crowd in close to see what’s in my hand,” Meyer said. “Gives me hope that a new generation of conservation biologists will be ready to take the lead when I retire.” LEARN AND GET INVOLVED DNR conservation biologist Andrew Badje, a trip leader since 2014, said outings are a way to teach people about the importance of citizen science efforts and how to get involved. “My trip priorities tend to focus on our state’s two DNR herptile citizen science programs, the Wisconsin Frog and Toad Survey and the Wisconsin Turtle Conservation Program,” Badje said. “I also like to put attendees ‘to work’ on trips, casually, of course. The goal is to get them to feel like they are a biologist or naturalist for the day.” Such hands-on trips are fun for leaders and participants alike, he added. “Some of my personal highlights are seeing the excitement of attendees while they hear Blanchard’s cricket frogs for the first time, or heading down the new Ridges Sanctuary
PASSION SHARED BY ALL Many foundation field trips seek to bring outdoor opportunities to beginners or engage people who may not have felt comfortable pursuing certain activities. Marty Moses, the Wisconsin state coordinator for Pheasants Forever, has led introductory hunting and fishing field trips. He recently partnered with John Motoviloff, hunter recruitment, retention and reactivation coordinator for the National Wild Turkey Federation, and Christopher Kilgour, founder of the diversity-focused group Color in the Outdoors, to lead beginner outings. “We have folks travel from all corners of the state to join,” Moses said. “I enjoy introducing others to the natural world. Great questions and conversation are always generated, and often the participants themselves become friends.” Motoviloff noted the desire to bring "new and diverse populations into the outdoors" and draw more people to the state's hunting and fishing traditions. “(The outdoors) are there for everyone,” he said. “And we need to keep our conservation traditions strong going forward.” IMPORTANT MESSAGE Another frequent trip leader, naturalist and author, John Bates, echoed the conservation focus and cited his satisfaction in sharing knowledge of the outdoors with all comers through the Natural Resources Foundation program. “My goal is always to help people fall more deeply in love with the natural world, just that simple,” said